The best DSCR lenders for STR investors in 2026

Kiavi — Best close times and STR income acceptance

Best for: investors competing in active markets who need fast, reliable closes

Starting price: Rate varies — contact for current rates

Kiavi (formerly LendingHome) is the most tech-forward DSCR lender in the category with a consistently fast 20-25 day close timeline that outpaces competitors by 1-3 weeks. The platform accepts Airbnb and Vrbo income documentation for DSCR qualification — borrowers can submit their OTA dashboards or market data reports to establish STR income. DSCR minimum of 1.0 (property income covers debt service) is standard. Available in most U.S. states. The online process is streamlined compared to traditional DSCR lenders.

Skip if: your property has DSCR below 1.0 or you need a portfolio/blanket loan structure — Lima One or Visio may have more flexibility.

What to tell your client: "Kiavi closes in 20-25 days. In a competitive market, that's the difference between winning and losing a deal. The STR income acceptance means the underwriting reflects what the property actually earns."

Lima One Capital — Best for fix-and-hold plus STR combo

Best for: investors who acquire, renovate, then convert to STR — or who want portfolio loan structures

Starting price: Rate varies by product type

Lima One Capital offers a broader product suite than pure DSCR lenders: bridge loans for acquisition and renovation, DSCR term loans for stabilized STRs, and portfolio loan structures for repeat investors. The bridge-to-DSCR sequence is particularly useful for investors who buy distressed properties, renovate them, and then refinance into a DSCR term loan once stabilized as an STR. Portfolio loans covering multiple properties under a single note simplify administration for operators with growing property counts. Close times of 25-30 days are competitive.

Skip if: your property is already stabilized as an STR and you want the fastest possible close — Kiavi is faster for straightforward DSCR term loans.

What to tell your client: "If you're buying a property that needs work before it can run as an STR, Lima One can fund the acquisition and renovation and then roll into the DSCR term loan without a lender switch."

Visio Lending — Best pure DSCR play with broad STR eligibility

Best for: investors who want a dedicated DSCR lender with the broadest STR property eligibility

Starting price: Rate varies — 1.0 DSCR typical minimum

Visio Lending has been one of the longest-running pure DSCR lenders and has explicitly embraced STR income for underwriting — they use STR market data (AirDNA and comparable STR income) rather than only long-term rental rents for DSCR calculation. The tradeoff is close timeline: Visio runs 45 days vs. Kiavi's 20-25, which is slower than competitors but still within competitive range for non-pressured acquisitions. No income verification, no employment documentation, and no limit on the number of financed properties.

Skip if: you need to close in under 30 days — Visio's 45-day timeline won't work for time-sensitive acquisitions.

What to tell your client: "Visio has been in DSCR since before it was a common product. If timeline isn't the constraint, their STR income underwriting and unlimited property count work well for growing portfolios."

New Silver — Best tech-forward fast decisions

Best for: investors who value fast pre-approval decisions and a technology-driven process

Starting price: Rate varies — online quote available

New Silver uses AI-driven underwriting to deliver instant pre-approval decisions and a fully digital loan process. For DSCR loans, New Silver can provide a pre-approval in minutes and close in as few as 5-7 days in ideal scenarios, though 20-30 days is more typical for complex deals. The technology-forward approach reduces paperwork friction and provides investors with clear status visibility throughout the process. New Silver accepts STR income and is strong on transparency in pricing — rate and fee disclosure is upfront.

Skip if: you have a complex scenario (unusual property type, borderline DSCR, renovation component) — human underwriting from Lima One or Visio handles edge cases better.

What to tell your client: "If you want to know where you stand quickly, New Silver's instant pre-approval is genuinely useful for early-stage deal evaluation."

Griffin Funding — Best for high-value and jumbo STR loans

Best for: investors financing luxury or high-value STR properties above conventional loan limits

Starting price: Rate varies — contact for jumbo DSCR rates

Griffin Funding specializes in non-QM (non-qualified mortgage) products including DSCR loans for high-value properties that exceed conventional loan limits. For luxury STR investors financing properties at $1M+ or in high-cost coastal markets where loan amounts exceed conventional limits, Griffin's jumbo DSCR product is one of the more competitive options. Griffin explicitly underwrites STR income and works with investors at the upper end of the market. The process is more relationship-driven than technology-forward platforms.

Skip if: your loan amount falls within conventional limits — Kiavi or New Silver are faster and more streamlined at standard loan sizes.